Bill for upgrading hospitals will top $100m, board says

A revamp of Rotorua and Taupo hospitals is likely to cost more than $100 million.

As well as improving the standard of healthcare in the region, it is expected to be one of the biggest construction projects undertaken in Rotorua, creating significant work for tradespeople.

The Lakes District Health Board has given more details on its planned upgrade to the two hospitals.

The work is likely to be done in two stages, and will cost just over $109 million. Rotorua Hospital will receive major improvements, including a new ward block.

Taupo Hospital will be completely redeveloped.

The business case for the redevelopment has been sent to the Health Ministry's national capital committee for approval and funding.

It will be considered on December 12, and the health board may know by Christmas whether it can go ahead with the first phase of the development, which will cost about $51 million.

The health board has said it can finance about half of that and is asking the Crown health financing agency for loans for the rest.

If it is approved, the first phase of work would be completed in four or five years and the whole project should be finished by 2012.

Part of the redevelopment will aim to increase the focus on day-stay surgery in line with international trends.

The first phase of the redevelopment would include the introduction of an acute adult assessment centre for patients who need tests or monitoring.

Board chief executive Cathy Cooney said those patients were now kept in the emergency department "for longer than ideal" periods or be admitted to a hospital bed.

The new centre would help free more beds and reduce waiting times in the emergency area.

The revamp will also include moving the intensive care unit to the first floor and the creation of a critical care centre and a new ambulatory care centre for patients who don't need a bed and are getting treatments such as chemotherapy or are attending outpatient appointments.

Another full-sized operating theatre will be built.

Mrs Cooney said fewer staff would be needed, but she did not expect large numbers of job losses.

With 1200 employees, the health board always had vacancies so it was possible that some staff who left might not be replaced.

Mrs Cooney said the improvements would not increase the number of beds in the hospital, but would create more space and better conditions.

There would be a greater focus on keeping patients out of hospital, and an increase in day-stay surgery.

Some patients would find themselves recovering in armchairs instead of beds.

Hospital staff were also reviewing the way they treated patients, Mrs Cooney said.

Each specialty area was completing a review of ways it could better treat patients.

The health board will hold public meetings in Rotorua and Taupo next month to give more information on the proposals.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)